Police roll out golf buggy blitz

HAVING a few beers behind the golf buggy wheel while hitting the fairways will be a thing of the past when Toowoomba police launch a crackdown on drink drivers.

A notice sent to City Golf Club Sporters members has warned of a blitz targeting the use of unregistered motorised golf buggies on roads, and random breath tests for drivers.

“Pleased be warned that these operations will include the operation of buggies on public roads while unregistered and random breath tests for drivers of buggies on public roads,” the member bulletin read.

“Please do not drive on footpaths or roads around the club which includes South, Louden, Winifred, Morton, Klein, Binns and Tame Sts.”

Driving golf buggies on public roads without permits is illegal in Queensland and leads to a $235 fine.

The State Government’s Conditional Registration Scheme, started in 2003 and updated in May this year, states golf buggies used on courses and club carparks don’t require conditional registrations.

The scheme was designed to facilitate the conditional registration of vehicles which do not comply with standard regulations.

“However, if a motorised golf buggy is only being used on a golf course or on a golf course carpark, or being used to directly cross a road that divides a golf course, there is no need for the vehicle to be conditionally registered,” the scheme said.

“Under the Conditional Registration Scheme, non-standard vehicles are allocated condition codes that ensure vehicles can move safely when used on the road. These conditions place restrictions on the vehicles such as the area of operation, time of day, maximum speed limit and may require other safety features.”